Mineral mining installation

ABSTRACT

A mining machine such as a planar is guided on a guide carried by a long wall face conveyor. The conveyor is articulatedly connected to pairs of guide bars which are slidably supported at their rearward ends on the bases of respective roof supports. Hydraulic cylinders interconnect the conveyor and guide bars and are operative to tilt the conveyor and hence the machine guide.

Oct. 28, 1975 United States Patent [191 Schlusener et al.

[ MINERAL MINING INSTALLATION 3,357,742 12/1967 Dommann et al. 299/32 [751 Horst Scheme, Wm; Christoph 323133;; 5/333 $235322.1:1:33i:1ijiiijiiiiijjii.22

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Rassmann, Lunen; Willi Heyer, Bochum, all of Germany Assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia,

982,024 l2/1965 United Kingdom................. 61/45 D westphaha Germany Primary Examiner-Stephen ll. Novosad May 2, 1974 Assistant ExaminerWilliam F. Pate, III

[22] Filed:

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak 21 Appl. No.: 466,337

[57] ABSTRACT A mining machine such as a planar is guided on a [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 19, 1973 Germany............................

[52] U.S. 299/32; 61/45 D [51] Int. [58] Field of Search 299/31 32, 33; 61/45 D the bases of respective roof supports. Hydraulic cylinders interconnect the conveyor and guide bars and are operative to tilt the conveyor and hence the machine guide.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,276,819 10/1966 Lobbe et 299/32 11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct.28, 1975 Shcct 1 of2 3,915,500

MINERAL MINING INSTALLATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a typical longwall mining installation a scraper chain conveyor extends alongside the mineral, for example, coal, face and is equipped with guide members for a winning machine such as a planar fitted with cutting picks. In one alternative installation, the machine may take the form of a shearer fitted with a rotary shearing drum. It is generally desirable to be able to adjust the position of the machine about an axis longitudinally of the conveyor so as to control the cutting horizon of the machine.

This adjustment may be obtained by tilting the conveyor relative to the roof support frames on the goaf side of the conveyor, the tilting operation being performed by hydraulic cylinders, but the known assemblies are not altogether satisfactory in this regard.

An object of the invention is to overcome the problems associated with the known installations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a mining installation comprises a guide for a mining machine extending or adapted to extend along a mineral face, and a plurality of movable supports disposed rearwardly of the guide, wherein at least one guide bar is supported and guided on each of at least some of said movable supports and is articulated directly or indirectly to the guide about an axis extending longitudinally of the guide, and at least one extensible thrust providing means is interposed between the guide and the guide bar or bars, being pivoted to such components at positions offset from the axis of articulation, actuation of said means serving to tilt the guide.

In conventional mining practice, the machine guide will be attached to or form part of a long wall face conveyor of the scraper chain type, to which the guide bar or bars will be pivoted. Also, it will generally be convenient to utilise as the thrust producing means one or more hydraulic rams although it is feasible to employ mechanical equivalents such as screw-operated de* vices. The ram is arranged such that upon extension or retraction the angle between the machine guide and the guide bar or bars is adjusted, a direct relationship exist ing between the stroke of the ram and angle of tilt.

Preferably, a pair of guide bars is employed, one bar being disposed on each side of a ram interconnecting the machine guide (or, in practice, the conveyor, and the movable support which, likewise in practice, will usually be in the form of a roof support unit or chock, this ram serving to advance alternately the conveyor and chock.

When the machine guide or conveyor is tilted, it swings about the axis of articulation of the guide bars which serve both for the guiding and alignment of the support and as cantilevers, projecting as they do far to the rear. Preferably, the connecting joints of the guide bars are such that the latter cannot perfomi at the most more than slight swivellin g movements about vertical axes.

To enable the base of the roof support chocks, or forwardly extending skids thereof, to be brought up close to the conveyor, or possibly to project under it, the mechanism interconnecting the conveyor and guide bars is preferably disposed at a suitable distance above the floor. The ram or rams for tilting the conveyor may be arranged vertically, although other angular arrangements are possible to obtain even greater space saving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view looking along a coal face showing a mineral mining installation according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line II II of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but ofa second embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As depicted in FIG. 1, a seam 10 of coal or other mineral is being worked by the longwall method of mining using a plough 15 which is guided for movement along a guide 14 secured to the face side of conveyor 13. The plough 15 has a body fitted with winning tools which work the full height of the seam between roof 11 and the floor 12 of the working. The guide 14 is in the form of a ramp plate having a leading edge 17 which bears on the floor, and inclined sliding surface 16 extending upwardly from the edge 17. The ramp plate is so positioned relative to the conveyor that the face-side sidesection 13 of the latter is held above the floor.

An arm 18 extends rearwardly from the plough body and has at its end a slider which embraces a guide rail 19 mounted at the top of an upstanding plate 20 on the conveyor goaf side.

Spaced one from another along the working on the goaf side of the conveyor are the individual units or chocks of the roof support system, each comprising essentially a base or floor bar 21, roof bar 23 and a pair of hydraulic rams or props 24. The roof bar 23 is pivoted to the face side end of a caving shield 22 which is pivoted at 27 to a support 25, which constitutes a backfilling shield and is itself pivoted to the floor bar 21 at 26.

The floor bar has upstanding brackets 32 to which is articulated by the means of a pin 31 the end of a double-acting ram 30. The piston. rod of the ram is articulated at 33 to the support 25 so that contraction of the ram moves the shield 22 and roof bar 23 towards the face, the rams 24 swinging about their points of articulation 28 and 29 relative to the floor bar 21 and shield 22, respectively. In addition to its main function of advancing the roof bar towards the face, the ram 30 also serves to reinforce the joints 26, 27 against overloading by the roof. Accordingly, the ram is equipped with a pressure relief device, possibly in the form of a valve.

The plate 20 is fitted with rearwardly projecting forks or brackets 41 supporting an upstanding pivot pin 43 about which a support 42 hearing on the brackets 41 is pivotable in a moreor-less horizontal plane. A horizontal pivot pin 49 is carried by lugs 48 of the support 42 and articulates thereto a yoke 35. Centrally of the yoke, in line with the pin 43, a double acting ram 36 is articulated thereto by a horizontal pin 37. Advantageously, the pin 37 is guided in slots in the central, forked part of the yoke to enable the conveyor to yield or breath as the plough is reciprocated along it. The piston rod 39 of the ram 36 is. articulated to the brackets 32 at 40, somewhat above the joint 31 of the ram 30.

Extending in parallel one on each side of the ram 36 are flexible spring steel guide rods or bars 34 which have their forward ends secured at 50 in rearwardly projecting bosses of the yoke. The rearward end of each guide bar 34 is fitted with a cross bolt 53, which, possibly through the intermediary of rollers, engages in horizontal guideways 52 in a pair of upstanding brackets 51 mounted on the bar 21 on the outside of the smaller brackets 32.

The support 42, to which the yoke is articulated, extends upwardly in the manner of a clevis or fork, between the arms of which extends a pin 45 supporting the end of a ram 44, the piston rod 46 of which is connected centrally to the yoke by means of a joint 47.

In use, when the ram 36 of a support unit is extended, and the roof bar 23 is wedged against the roof, the conveyor will be advanced. Following this movement, retraction of the ram 36 will bring the support unit forward, provided that the roof bar has been lowered. During each movement, the moving parts will be guided by bars 34 which slide in the guideways 52. The effect of the guideways is to prevent any swivelling of the moving parts in the horizontal plane, although pivotal movement about the axes of the cross-bolts 53 is not so restricted.

The cutting horizon of the plough is adjustable by varying the inclination of the conveyor and hence the plough guide 14 about the edge 17 in the direction indicated by arrow A. This motion is obtainable by actuating the ram 44. Since the rearward ends of the guide bars cannot lift out of the guideways 52, pivotal motion between the conveyor and yoke 35 necessarily takes place about the pivot 49, and the guide 14 is adjusted as required.

It will be noted from FIG. I that the guide bars and yoke and the parts associated therewith are disposed substantially above the floor skid 21 so that the forward end 21 thereof may be advanced close to the conveyor. Any tendency of the support to tilt is therefore counterbalanced and stability increased.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is in essential respects similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, like reference numerals being used to designate like components. One particular difference is that in this embodiment the floor bar 21 has a forwardly extending skid 60 articulated thereto about a horizontal joint 61. A stop 62 on the floor bar engages a rearward extension 63 of the skid 60 to prevent the latter being pivoted upwardly beyond the horizontal position shown, although the skid is permitted to move towards the floor in the direction of arrow B. The skid is consequently able to support the support frame against tipping forces which result from the loading of the roof bar 23, and it can adjust itself to any hollows in the floor. The skid 60 moreover extends under the conveyor and provides a bearing surface for the goaf side side frame thereof.

Another difference is the provision on the floor bar of guides 64 for the mid-parts of the guide bars 34, the guides 64 having eyes or slots 65 which permit a limited degree of vertical movement of the guide bars. The supports 42 are in this embodiment connected to the conveyor through the intermediary of a T-guide 66 connected to the conveyor, so that relative sliding movement may take place between conveyor and support.

The guide bars may be connected directly to the conveyor or to a part attached thereof, so as to prevent angular movement in the horizontal plane, and the ram 36 may be coupled through a joint to the attached part.

Modifications to the embodiments described above may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention, thus, in each of the embodiments, the hydraulic rams may be provided singly or in groups, or they may be replaced by mechanical equivalents such as screws.

Although as a general rule, a pair of guide bars is to be preferred, a single, possibly wider guide bar disposed centrally of the bar 21 is to be understood to fall within the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A mining installation comprising:

a. a guide for a mining machine, said guide being adapted to extend along a mineral face, and

b. a plurality of movable supports disposed rearwardly of said guide, at least some of said movable supports each having associated therewith:

i. a guide bar means supported and guided on said support, said guide bar means terminating forwardly in a connecting piece;

ii. a member connected to the guide so as to be rigid therewith with respect to movement about an axis parallel to the guide, said guide bar means being articulated to said member about an axis extending longitudinally of the guide; and

iii. at least one thrust producing means pivotably connected to the connecting piece and said member at positions offset from the said axis of articulation, actuation of said thrust producing means serving to tilt the guide.

2. An installation as claimed in claim 1, including a longwall face conveyor having a face side to which said guide is fitted and a goaf side to which the guide bar means are articulated.

3. An installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member has a portion which projects upwardly above the axis of articulation and the thrust producing means is connected to said portion.

4. A mining installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide bar means is slidable longitudinally of the associated movable support, that is, in the direction of the machine guide and is pivotable in a substantially vertical plane about its rearward end.

5. A mining installation as claimed in claim 4, wherein said guide bar means comprises two guide bars for each support, and a further thrust producing device, said device being connected between each connecting piece and the associated movable support being disposed between the guide bars.

6. A mining installation as claimed in claim 5, wherein the movable support has upstanding frames with substantially horizontal guides and guide bars have sliding pivots at their rearward ends, the sliding pivots cooperating with the guides.

7. A mining installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member and connecting piece are articulated together about a horizontal axis.

8. A mining installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide bar means is guided and supported forwardly of its rearward end by guides on the movable support.

9. A mining installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide bar means consists of at least two flexible steel parts.

10. A mining installation comprising:

a. a longwall face conveyor, adapted to extend along a mineral face, said conveyor having a goaf side and a face side,

6 b. a guide for a mining machine, said guide being atveyor and guide bar means at positions offset tached to the face side of said conveyor, and from said axis of articulation, actuation of said c. a plurality of movable supports disposed adjacent thrust producing means serving to tilt the conthe goaf side of said conveyor, said supports having veyor and guide, and base members, at least some of said supports each 5 iv. a skid articulated to forward end of the base having associated therewith: member, the skid extending under the conveyor, i. a guide bar supporting and guiding means the skid having a rearwardly directed arm for mounted on the base member of said support, contact with a stop on the base member to limit ii. a guide bar means guided and supported by said upward movement of the skid.

guide bar supporting means, said guide bar 10 11. A mining installation claimed in claim 10, means being articulated to the goaf side of the wherein the thrust producing means interposed beconveyor about an axis extending longitudinally tween the machine guide or conveyor and guide bar of the guide, means extends substantially vertically.

iii. thrust-producing means articulated to the con- 

1. A mining installation comprising: a. a guide for a mining machine, said guide being adapted to extend along a mineral face, and b. a plurality of movable supports disposed rearwardly of said guide, at least some of said movable supports each having associated therewith: i. a guide bar means supported and guided on said support, said guide bar means terminating forwardly in a connecting piece; ii. a member connected to the guide so as to be rigid therewith with respect to movement about an axis parallel to the guide, said guide bar means being articulated to said member about an axis extending longitudinally of the guide; and iii. at least one thrust producing means pivotably connected to the connecting piece and said member at positions offset from the said axis of articulation, actuation of said thrust producing means serving to tilt the guide.
 2. An installation as claimed in claim 1, including a longwall face conveyor having a face side to which said guide is fitted and a goaf side to which the guide bar means are articulated.
 3. An installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member has a portion which projects upwardly above the axis of articulation and the thrust producing means is connected to said portion.
 4. A mining installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide bar means is slidable longitudinally of the associated movable support, that is, in the direction of the machine guide and is pivotable in a substantially vertical plane about its rearward end.
 5. A mining installation as claimed in claim 4, wherein said guide bar means comprises two guide bars for each support, and a further thrust producing device, said device being connected between each connecting piece and the associated movable support being disposed between the guide bars.
 6. A mining installation as claimed in claim 5, wherein the movable support has upstanding frames with substantially horizontal guides and the guide bars have sliding pivots at their rearward ends, the sliding pivots cooperating with the guides.
 7. A mining installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member and connecting piece are articulated together about a horizontal axis.
 8. A mining installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide bar means is guided and supported forwardly of its rearward end by guides on the movable support.
 9. A mining installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide bar means consists of at least two flexible steel parts.
 10. A mining installation comprising: a. a longwall face conveyor, adapted to extend along a mineral face, said conveyor having a goaf side and a face side, b. a guide for a mining machine, said guide being attached to the face side of said conveyor, and c. a plurality of movable supports disposed adjacent the goaf side of said conveyor, said supports having base members, at least some of said supports each having associated therewith: i. a guide bar supporting and guiding means mounted on the base member of said support, ii. a guide bar means guided and supported by said guide bar supporting means, said guide bar means being articulated to the goaf side of the conveyor about an axis extending longitudinally of the guide, iii. thrust-producing means articulated to the conveyor and guide bar means at positions offset from said axis of articulation, actuation of said thrust producing means serving to tilt the conveyor and guide, and iv. a skid articulated to forward end of the base member, the skid extending under the conveyor, the skid having a rearwardly directed arm for contact with a stop on the base member to limit upward movement of the skid.
 11. A mining installation as claimed in claim 10, wherein the thrust producing means interposed between the machine guide or conveyor and guide bar means extends substantially vertically. 